Support for Adolescents With Celiac Disease

September 1, 2020 updated by: Melike Taşdelen Baş

Peer-Interaction Group Support in Adolescents With Celiac Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study was designed as a randomized controlled experimental study to examine the effects of peer-interaction group support in adolescents with celiac disease (CD) in the 13-18 age group on the quality of life, friendship relations, and coping levels of adolescents.

Six peer interactive group sessions were held with one week intervals with adolescents (n = 18) in the study group included in the sample for a period of 3 months. In the sessions, all participants were asked questions about the purpose of the session and a discussion environment was created. No training and counseling were provided to the adolescents in the control group (n = 18). Before and after the peer interactive group support, adolescents in the intervention and control group were asked to complete the quality of life, friendship qualities, and coping scales.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

The study is a randomized controlled experimental study conducted to examine the effect of peer interactive group support on quality of life, peer relationships and coping (coping) levels in adolescents aged 13-18 years with celiac disease.

The study was conducted on adolescents with a diagnosis of celiac disease in the outpatient clinic of the Department of Child Health of Afyon Kocatepe University in Afyonkarahisar. This change took place after research permissions were obtained. Patients are served in the polyclinic between 09:00 and 17:00 on weekdays. Gastroenterology Specialist, who monitors the patients with Celiac diagnosis, works as a physician. There are no nurses in the polyclinic and individual training is not given to celiac patients according to their needs.

There are 85 patients with a diagnosis of celiac disease in the 0-18 age group who were followed up in the Department of Child Health and Diseases of Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University, where the study will be conducted. It was determined from the patient records that there were 36 patients with a diagnosis of celiac disease in the 13-18 age group. The universe of the study consisted of patients with a diagnosis of celiac disease in the 13-18 age group who were followed up in the Pediatric Outpatient Clinic of Afyonkarahisar University of Health Sciences.

Data Collection Tools Introductory Information Form, Quality of Life Scale for Children (13-18 age group), Friendship Qualities Scale and Coping Scale for Adolescents prepared by the researcher for data collection.

Introductory Information Form In this form prepared by the researcher, there are 14 questions regarding the demographic characteristics of the mother, father, family and child. After randomization, an introductory information form (before peer interactive group support) was administered to all adolescents in the research and control groups in a classroom of the Pediatric Outpatient Clinic where the study was conducted.

Children's Quality of Life Scale - PedsQL (13-18 age group) The quality of life scale for children was developed by Varni et al. (1999) to measure the quality of life of children and adolescents aged 2-18 years. The internal consistency coefficient (Cronbach's alpha) of the section prepared for children of the scale developed by Varni et al. Was found to be 0.93. Memik et al. (2007) conducted a study on the validity and reliability of the adolescent form of the PedsQL (13-18 years old).

While the World Health Organization defines health, it covers the areas of physical, emotional and social functionality. Scoring is made for these three areas in the scale. In the scale, a fourth area under the name of school functionality is questioned. The psychosocial health total score (PSTP) is calculated by calculating the total score (STP), physical health total score (FSTP), emotional, social and school functionality item scores in the scale.

The Quality of Life Scale for Children (PedsQL) is a scale suitable for use in healthy or ill children and adolescents in settings such as schools and hospitals. The scale consists of 23 items in total. The scale is in the form of a 5-point Likert scale and is scored between 0-4. The items are scored between 0-100. The scale gives 100 points for never answer, rarely 75 points for its answer, sometimes 50 points for its answer, often 25 points for its answer, and almost always 0 points for its answer. The Turkish validity and reliability study of the PedsQL for the 13-18 age group was conducted by Memik et al. (2007). The internal consistency coefficient (Cronbach's alpha) of the form prepared for adolescents in the study of Memik et al. Was found to be 0.82.

Friendship Qualities Scale The friendship qualities scale aims to evaluate the relationships of 10-18 year old children and adolescents with their best friends. The scale was created by Bukowski et al. (1994). The internal consistency coefficients (Cronbach's alpha) according to the sub-dimensions of the scale were: 0.72; conflict: 0.68; proximity: 0.76; help: 0.81; and protection: found to be 0.58. The Turkish validity and reliability study of the scale was conducted by Erkan Atik et al. (2014). Participants included in the study are secondary and high school students. The internal consistency coefficient of the whole scale in the study of Erkan Atik et al. Was found to be 0.85. The scale includes 22 items and five sub-dimensions. The scale is graded from 1 to 5. "1" is not right for your friendship, "2" may be correct, "3" is usually correct, "4" is very correct, "5" is completely correct. The sub-dimensions of the scale are togetherness, conflict, assistance, protection and closeness. Togetherness sub-dimension, items 1, 2, 3 and 4, conflict sub-dimension 5,6,7 and 8 items, help sub-dimension 9,10,11,12 and 13 items, protection sub-dimension 14,15,16 and 17th items, proximity sub-dimension is calculated by evaluating items 18,19,20,21 and 22. All items in the conflict sub-dimension of the scale are calculated by reverse coding. The scores that can be obtained vary between 4-20 in the Togetherness, Conflict and Protection sub-dimensions, and 5-25 in the Assistance and Proximity sub-dimensions. If the scale score to be obtained from both the total score and the sub-dimensions is high, this is considered as positive peer relationships.

Coping Scale for Adolescents (KIDCOPE) The scale, which was created by Spirito et al. (1988) under the name of KIDCOPE (multidimensional coping strategies for children scale), consists of two forms for children (5-13 years old) and adolescents (13-18 years). The internal consistency coefficient (Cronbach's alpha) of the scale was 0.62. The Coping Scale for Adolescents consists of 11 items in total. This scale includes ten coping strategies. These strategies include social distancing, distraction, desiring thinking, problem solving, withdrawal, cognitive restructuring, social support, emotion regulation, self-criticism, and blaming others.

The 10 strategies included in KIDCOPE are; distraction (played a game to watch or forget TV), withdrawal (left alone), desiresing thinking (wanted to be able to do things differently), self-criticism (blamed myself), blaming others (blaming someone else for causing the problem), problem solving (I tried to solve the problem by thinking about the answers), emotion regulation (tried to calm myself or yelled, screamed), cognitive restructuring (tried to see the good side of things), social support (tried to feel better by spending time with family or friends) and social distancing (I didn't want to spend time with my family or friends) The 10 strategies included in KIDCOPE are; distraction (played a game to watch or forget TV), withdrawal (left alone), desiresing thinking (wanted to be able to do things differently), self-criticism (blamed myself), blaming others (blaming someone else for causing the problem), problem solving (I tried to solve the problem by thinking about the answers), emotion regulation (tried to calm myself or yelled, screamed), cognitive restructuring (tried to see the good side of things), social support (tried to feel better by spending time with family or friends) and social distancing (I didn't want to spend time with my family or friends) In the implementation phase of the study, a classroom belonging to the Child Health and Diseases Polyclinic of Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University Faculty of Medicine Hospital was used. All sessions in the research were held in this classroom. The sessions lasted an average of 90 minutes in two 45-minute sections. Gluten-free products were presented during the 20-minute break between sessions. During the break, adolescents were given the opportunity to interact with each other by chatting. The pre-test application of the introductory information form and scale forms of all the participants in the research group was applied at the beginning of the first session, and the post-test application at the end of the last session, which was the sixth session. The pre-test application of the participants included in the control group was applied on the same day separately from the research group, and the post-test application (only scales) was applied in the same classroom at the end of all sessions.

Research Group Interactive peer group support was implemented for 3 months, one week apart. A total of 6 sessions were held with the research group. Group meetings were planned to be held at the weekend in order to prevent adolescents' attendance at school. However, as the data collection phase is in the summer and schools are closed, the sessions were held on weekdays and bi-weekly. The adolescents in the study group were reached by phone before each session. One day before the session, all participants were sent a text message informing the meeting and its place and time and they were invited. Each session lasted 1.5 hours on average.

The contents of the first and second sessions of the research were prepared beforehand. However, the contents of the third, fourth, fifth and sixth sessions were arranged after the first two sessions. Table of contents of the 6 sessions held is presented in Table 3.

In the sessions, all participants were asked questions regarding the target determined for the session. By creating a discussion environment based on these questions, it was ensured that the participants shared their problems and solutions with each other. The responses of the participants to the questions were noted and reported by the researcher.

Control Group No peer interactive group support was provided to the control group. In the control group, in a classroom belonging to the University's Child Health and Diseases Polyclinic where the study was conducted, the Introductory Information Form, the Quality of Life Scale for Children, the Friendship Qualities Scale, the Adolescent Coping Scale were applied after the adolescents and parents were informed about the subject of the study and written permission was obtained. Three months later, the Adolescents in the control group were administered the Quality of Life Scale for Children, Friendship Qualities Scalee, and the Adolescent Coping Scale.

The adolescents in the control group were not informed about the routine education they received from the hospital during the study. A separate training meeting was held for the control group on 11.10.2018, after all sessions of the peer interactive group support of the study were completed. The training lasted about one hour in the classroom of the University's Child Health and Diseases Polyclinic. The definition, symptoms and signs of celiac disease, treatment and dietary rules were discussed in the training content. At the end of the meeting, an information booklet titled "Living with Celiacs" was given.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

36

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

      • Konya, Turkey, 42550
        • Selcuk University Aksehir Kadir Yallagöz Health School.

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

13 years to 18 years (ADULT, CHILD)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Must have had celiac disease for more than a year
  • Must be between 13-18 years old

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Another chronic disease
  • Psychiatric illness

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE
  • Allocation: RANDOMIZED
  • Interventional Model: PARALLEL
  • Masking: NONE

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: PEER-INTERACTION GROUP SUPPORT

All the sessions of the research took place in a classroom in the hospital. The sessions lasted an average of 90 minutes with two 45-minute sections. During the break, which lasted about 20 minutes, gluten-free products were offered. During the break, adolescents were given the opportunity to chat and interact with each other.

Peer interactive group support was implemented for 3 months with an interval of one week. A total of 6 sessions were held with the study group. Adolescents in the study group were contacted by phone before each session. The day before the session, a text message was sent to all participants informing the location and time of the meeting. The contents of the first and second sessions in relation to the study were created beforehand. However, contents of the third, fourth, fifth and sixth sessions were prepared after the first two sessions.

  • Adolescents share their knowledge about the disease
  • Emphasizing the definition and symptoms of celiac disease
  • Discussion of the treatment of celıac disease Expression Question-Answer Discussion Summarizing
  • Determining what experience living with celiac is fot the patient (What do I think about the disease, how do I feel about the disease,how do I perceive the disease, how does the disease affect me)
  • Determining the difficulties encountered in Daily life due to illness (How do I deal with difficulties)
  • Determining how the disease affects life Expression Question-Answer Discussion Summarizing
  • Evaluating dietary information
  • Identifying the difficulties in diet therapy Expression Question-Answer Discussion Summarizing Case Study Presentation (Transfer of life experience of an individual who is 22 years old with celiac disease)
  • Assessment of difficulties encountered in school and social life
  • Evaluation of the solution suggestions fort he difficulties encountered Expression Question-Answer Discussion Summarizing Örnek Olay Sunumu (Transfer of life of experience of a 23 years old dietician with celiac disease)
  • Evaluation of the effects of the disease on academic success
  • Evaluation of the effects of the disease on peer relationships in the school enviroment
  • Difficulties experienced in peer relations and evaluation of relationships (exclusion) Expression Question-Answer Discussion Summarizing
  • General summary of all sessions so far
  • Summarizing the topics discussed in the previous session
  • Evaluating the future goals of the participants Expression Question-Answer Discussion Summarizing
EXPERIMENTAL: routine health care- control group
Peer interactive group support was not provided to the control group.
Peer interactive group support was not provided to the control group. After all the sessions of the peer interactive group support of the study were completed, a separate training meeting was held for the control group.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Quality of Life Scale
Time Frame: 12 weeks
The Quality of Life Scale for Children (PedsQL) is a scale suitable for use in healthy or ill children and adolescents in settings such as schools and hospitals. The scale consists of 23 items in total. The scale is in the form of a 5-point Likert scale and is scored between 0-4. The items are scored between 0-100. It is thought that the higher the total score for PedsQL, the better the health-related quality of life.
12 weeks
Friendship Qualities Scale
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Friendship Qualities Scale The Friendship Qualities Scale aims to evaluate the relationship of children and adolescents in the 10-18 age group with their best friends. The scores that can be obtained vary between 4-20 in the Togetherness, Conflict and Protection sub-dimensions, and 5-25 in the Assistance and Proximity sub-dimensions. If the scale score to be obtained from both the total score and the sub-dimensions is high, this is considered as positive peer relationships.
12 weeks
Coping Scale (KIDCOPE)
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Coping Scale for Adolescents (KIDCOPE) The scale, which was created by Spirito et al. (1988) under the name of KIDCOPE (multidimensional coping strategies for children scale), consists of two forms for children (5-13 years old) and adolescents (13-18 years).The scores to be scored range from 0-12 for active and avoidant coping, and 0-9 points for negative coping. A higher score indicates that the assessed coping approach is used more.
12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Study Director: Hicran Çavuşoğlu, Hacettepe University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (ACTUAL)

June 22, 2018

Primary Completion (ACTUAL)

September 6, 2018

Study Completion (ACTUAL)

October 11, 2018

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 10, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 26, 2020

First Posted (ACTUAL)

September 1, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (ACTUAL)

September 3, 2020

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 1, 2020

Last Verified

August 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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